Hiring outlook, remote working rates, and which companies are actively recruiting.
Penetration Tester hiring in the UK is being driven by the NHS and public sector building out security capability after high-profile incidents, with demand concentrated in London, with growing pockets in Manchester and Leeds. KPMG UK and Deloitte UK are among the more consistent UK hirers, and post-Brexit visa sponsorship routes have made it easier for UK employers to pull in senior Active Directory attack techniques specialists from overseas when the domestic candidate pool for that skill set runs short.
Share of United Kingdom Penetration Tester roles advertising remote or hybrid working.
We will publish a year-on-year pay change for Penetration Tester in United Kingdom once a comparable annual benchmark is available.
Strongest in: Critical national infrastructure and utilities, led by employers such as KPMG UK and Deloitte UK
Penetration Tester hiring in the UK is being driven by the NHS and public sector building out security capability after high-profile incidents, with demand concentrated in London, with growing pockets in Manchester and Leeds. KPMG UK and Deloitte UK are among the more consistent UK hirers, and post-Brexit visa sponsorship routes have made it easier for UK employers to pull in senior Active Directory attack techniques specialists from overseas when the domestic candidate pool for that skill set runs short.
Who companies hire: Security analysts with self-developed offensive security skills, software developers who have completed OSCP or similar certifications, and IT graduates from cybersecurity degree programmes transition into penetration testing.
Salary premium over the United Kingdom median for Penetration Testers who list these skills.
Companies with consistent or active Penetration Tester hiring in United Kingdom.
Market intelligence
UK tech hiring moves faster than job boards show
Our monthly UK market briefing covers salary movements, which roles are in demand, and what contractors are actually billing, sourced from live market data.
No spam. Unsubscribe any time. GDPR-compliant.
Very high demand. Penetration Testing is one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity disciplines in Ireland. The expansion of mandatory security testing requirements under DORA (for financial services), NIS2, and GDPR is driving organisations to increase the frequency and scope of penetration testing. The supply of qualified penetration testers in Ireland is well below demand, creating favourable conditions for experienced professionals.
Yes, an excellent career choice. Penetration testing offers high salaries, intellectually stimulating work, strong career progression, and the ability to operate as a contractor or consultant at premium rates. The ongoing growth of cyber threats and regulatory requirements ensure long-term job security. Dublin has a growing ecosystem of cybersecurity employers, and remote working flexibility is high for external testing engagements.
A Penetration Tester typically conducts time-boxed, scoped assessments of specific systems, networks, or applications, providing a point-in-time vulnerability report. A Red Team Operator conducts longer, covert adversary simulations designed to test an organisation's detection and response capability across people, processes, and technology. Red Team operations are more advanced and typically command higher salaries. Most Penetration Testers progress into Red Team roles as they develop advanced adversary simulation skills.
The most effective route into penetration testing in Ireland is through self-study combined with recognised certifications. Start with CompTIA Security+ for foundational knowledge, then pursue eLearnSecurity eJPT or PNPT as practical entry-level offensive security certifications. Build a home lab using TryHackMe or HackTheBox and document your learning. OSCP is the target certification that unlocks junior penetration testing roles in Ireland. A degree in cybersecurity or computer science is helpful but not essential if you can demonstrate practical skills through certifications and a home lab portfolio.